Voters in the Prairie Heights School District will be asked to decide a referendum on school funding Tuesday.

Prairie Heights is among a growing list of Indiana districts asking voters to raise property taxes locally to support school operations.

Changes in school funding from the state and declining enrollment at Prairie Heights brought the funding issue to a head earlier this year.

Superintendent Jeff Reed said the district has cut staff from 98 in 2012 to 78 now and is understaffed. It has cut spending where it can and cut utilities through HVAC and lighting upgrades. It is spending down its Rainy Day Fund for operational costs.

By 2026 the district will be in the red by $11.8 million dollars if nothing is done.

If the referendum passes, Reed said the district would address under-staffing and wages. If it does not pass, there are no plans to consolidate with another district but Reed says the district would look much different than it does today.